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This study sought to provide a comprehensive analysis of English language teaching (ELT) research in Southeast Asia (SEA) using both quantitative and qualitative data. Specifically, this paper sought to describe the characteristics, growth, impact, trajectory, and distribution of ELT research in the SEA region, determine the research themes that emerged and how they have evolved for the past 6 years, and identify the extent of collaboration among SEA ELT scholars. This examination, covering a 6-year period, showcases the breadth and depth of research undertaken in the region. Overall, the research productivity and citations in the region have been increasing during the inclusive years, with Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia leading the list in almost all metrics. Research designs have also become more sophisticated in recent years as research contexts and topics continue to expand. Popular topics include teacher cognition and agency, teaching practices, computer-assisted language learning, and teaching macro skills. Although collaboration among SEA countries remains modest, their collaboration with western countries is relatively extensive, especially Vietnam and Singapore. Policy implications and future directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines hybrid threats to maritime transportation systems and their governance responses; focusing on the congested Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) as an illustrative case study. The methodology combines secondary sources with primary data from 42 expert interviews, a 28 respondent survey, and two maritime security roundtables. Key findings were that ships' critical systems are increasingly interconnected, yet aging IT infrastructure and minimal cybersecurity awareness among crews heighten risks. Meanwhile, regional terrorist groups have previously targeted shipping and shown considerable skill in exploiting online tools, aligning with broader calls for jihadist violence. Furthermore, opportunistic piracy persists in the SOMS with the potential to disrupt shipping. Experts confirmed that maritime cybersecurity lags behind other critical infrastructure sectors and needs updated governance. Initial International Maritime Organization (IMO) guidelines lack specificity but revisions and updated IMO guidance are in process, while Port state implementation of maritime cybersecurity standards varies. Crucially, information sharing remains inadequate, even as recorded attacks increase. Findings underscore that although major hybrid incidents have not occurred, simulations and threat actors' capabilities demonstrate potential for catastrophic collisions or cascading disruption in congested waterways. Mitigating factors like redundancy and crew training are deficient currently. Some alignment between SOMS states on maritime security cooperation exists, but not on cyber threats specifically. Key recommendations include an anonymous cyber attack reporting system, reinforced training and shipboard systems, and consolidated regional frameworks. Until these priorities are addressed, the analysis concludes that hybrid vulnerabilities in this vital global chokepoint remain a serious concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years there has been a renewed enthusiasm about the role of migration in development, as well as the importance of remittances. However, there is also a danger of rehashing previous debates with an overemphasis on economic remittances, while relegating the transfer of social remittances, such as new ideas, knowledge, skills, practices, and social capital, to a secondary role. Though literature on social remittances has increased over the last decade, the debate tends to emphasise the positive relation between migration, remittances, and development. In this paper we scrutinise this relation. Based on eight months of multi‐sited empirical research in Thailand (origin) and Singapore (destination), the aim of this paper is to enhance our understanding of the process of transfer of social remittances to the place of origin, and their effect on social resilience. This paper examines current and returned migrants and hypothesises that the translocal setting – including both occupational engagement at the destination and local conditions at the place of origin – and time decisively influence how social remittances can be used back home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AI Journalism has been increasing its market penetration and extending its reach in newsrooms and classrooms from the Global North to the Global South, though with varying levels of resources. AI development in journalism innovation comes on the back of trends in AI research efforts and the labor market: research publications on AI have doubled; the share of AI jobs among job postings in Singapore skyrocketed and surpassed US, Canada, UK, and Australia; AI itself is contributing to the development of AI; and annual global corporate investment in AI rose to $176.5 billion in 2021 from $6.1 billion in 2013. With increasing academic and business interests, Asian newsrooms are taking either rapid or measured strides in developing their suite of AI experiences that leverage automation and a business model that is flexible enough to absorb shocks from constant digital transformation and disruption. Using database and web search, as well as a review of financial statements and national AI strategies, the study contributes a comparative overview of AI perceptions, plans, content, and ethics in online news platforms in a developed and a developing country in Southeast Asia, Singapore, and the Philippines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of the single-hub container system in Southeast Asia into a multi-hub system, with several emerging container ports serving deep-sea container vessels and forming their feeder service network, may result in intense competition in the region and a transformation in the ports' roles. Thus, major ports in the region have sought to enhance their competitiveness by offering improved cargo handling capabilities, well-developed infrastructure, and modernised facilities as well as increased service coverage and connectivity to more countries both directly and indirectly. Several major container ports in the area have taken full advantage of competitiveness to become new hub-ports in the area. To understand the dynamics of competition in this rapidly developing region more clearly, this paper presents an evaluation of connectivity of major ports. In addition, the competitiveness of the top ten Southeast Asian container ports is evaluated using the TOPSIS method and K-mean cluster analysis. The results indicate that the top ten ports are categorised into three groups, and while Singapore (Group 1) takes the most advantage of its connectivity, ports in Groups 2 and 3 may be able to enhance competitiveness by developing cargo handling facilities and infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores how data from population genome projects in Southeast Asia are mobilized for identity formation beyond the lab. We compare two cases, the Vietnamese Genome Project which is funded by a Vietnamese private conglomerate and the Peranakan Genome Project in Singapore, to elucidate how the results from population genomic projects in Vietnam and Singapore are co-constituted with existing political and cultural narratives, as well as with varying notions of 'Chinese-ness'. We find that while scientists in Vietnam use genomics to construct the Vietnamese as genetically independent from what is perceived to be an increasingly dominant Chinese geopolitical power, scientists and participants involved in the Peranakan Genome Project emphasize genomic and cultural mixing which happened between Southern Chinese migrants and the indigenous Malay population historically to distinguish from the rest of the 'Chinese' population in Singapore. The cases illustrate the different ways in which the actors involved in these two genome projects strategically differentiate and negotiate the 'bio geo-body' of the Vietnamese and the Peranakan in relation to the Chinese identity and nationalism, thereby revealing how genomics is intertwined with local and regional histories, culture and politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rare diseases, also referred to as orphan diseases, are characterised by their low prevalence with majority of them are chronically debilitating and life threatening. Given the low prevalence and the widely dispersed but very small patient base for each disease, there may often be a disproportion in the availability of treatments and resources to manage patients, spur research and train experts. This is especially true in Southeast Asian countries that are currently in the process of implementing or revising their universal health coverage schemes. This paper aims to examine the status of rare disease management in Southeast Asian countries. It will serve as the basis for a more active discussion on how countries in the region can address an under-recognised rare disease burden and enhance national and regional capacities.Methods: The study consists of literature reviews and key stakeholders interviews in six focus countries, including the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand and five countries as best practice, comprising of France, Canada, Australia, Taiwan, and South Korea. Rare disease management initiatives across each country were examined based on the World Health Organization's framework for action in strengthening health systems.Results: The results suggest rare disease management remains challenging across Southeast Asia, as many of the focus countries face fundamental issues from basic healthcare systems to funding. Nonetheless, there are substantial improvement opportunities, including leveraging best practices from around the world and organising a multi-stakeholder and regional approach and strategy.Conclusions: Southeast Asian countries have made significant progress in the management of rare disease, but there remain key areas for substantial development opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Scientific output in Southeast Asia (SEA) on the topic of dementia is postulated to be low in quality and quantity. It is also speculated that certain socioeconomic variables and measures of disease burden for dementia may play a significant role in driving the research output of a particular country.Objective: This study aimed to determine the research impact of published journal articles on dementia in SEA and its association with country-level socioeconomic factors and measures of disease burden for dementia.Methods: A systematic search was conducted using electronic healthcare databases. We included articles published on dementia until August 2019 with at least 1 author affiliated with any SEA institution. We obtained bibliometric indices, relevant socioeconomic factors, and measures of disease burden for dementia from published sources.Results: One thousand six articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The majority of publications were related to Alzheimer's disease (n = 775, 77.0%). Singapore contributed the highest number of publications (n = 457, 45.4%). Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, % GDP for research and development, and total neurologists significantly correlated with several bibliometric indices. On the other hand, the measures of disease burden for dementia in SEA countries were not significantly associated with research productivity.Conclusion: Research productivity in SEA on dementia has substantially increased in recent years. Augmenting GDP per capita and expanding the apportionment of resources to research and development (R&D) may have a significant role in the advancement of dementia research in SEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The rate of international migration for the primary purpose of employment has increased exponentially in recent decades. A significant proportion of this global movement takes place across East and Southeast Asia as workers move on a temporary basis from lower-middle-income home countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam to high-income host destinations including Hong Kong and Singapore. Relatively little is known about the unique and long-term health needs of this heterogeneous group of people. This systematic review presents an analysis of recent research into the experiences and perceptions of health of temporary migrant workers in the East and Southeast Asian regions. Methods: Five electronic databases CINAHL Complete (via EbscoHost), EMBASE (including Medline), PsycINFO (via ProQuest), PubMed and Web of Science, were systematically searched for qualitative or mixed methods, peer-reviewed literature published in print or online between January 2010 and December 2020. Quality of the studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research published by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Findings from the included articles were extracted and synthesised using qualitative thematic analysis. Results: Eight articles were included in the review. Findings from this review indicate that multiple dimensions of workers' health is impacted by the processes of temporary migration. In addition, the research reviewed indicated that migrant workers used various strategies and mechanisms to attempt to address their health-related issues and to take better care of themselves. Such agentic practices could help them manage and maintain their health and wellbeing across physical, psychological and spiritual dimensions within the structural constraints of their employment. Conclusions: Limited published research has focused on the health perceptions and needs of temporary migrant workers in East and Southeast Asia. The studies included in this review focused on female migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines. These studies provide valuable insights but do not reflect the heterogeneity of migrants moving within these regions. The findings of this systematic review highlight that temporary migrant workers experience high and sustained levels of stress and are exposed to certain health risks which may compromise long-term health outcomes. These workers demonstrate knowledge and skills in managing their own health. This suggests that strength-based approaches to health promotion interventions may be effective in optimising their health over time. These findings are relevant to policy makers and non-government organisations supporting migrant workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hornets (Vespidae: Vespinae) recorded from Singapore comprise five visually conspicuous species. Three of the four Vespa species, V. affinis (Linnaeus), V. analis Fabricius, and V. tropica (Linnaeus), occur frequently across multiple habitat types, whereas the forest-associated V. multimaculata Pérez is known only from historical records. Also from Singapore, a species of night hornet, Provespa anomala (de Saussure), is associated with forests and is often attracted to artificial light sources. We review these five hornet species, summarising their global and local distribution and natural history, including their habitat preferences, prey, and floral associations. We also assess their conservation status in Singapore based on historical collections and recent surveys. Lack of records of V. multimaculata within the last 90 years despite targeted sampling efforts in remnant forest habitats indicate that this species is likely locally extinct. We present diagnoses, simple keys, and images of all taxa to facilitate the conservation, management, and monitoring of these ecologically and medically significant insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The body of knowledge related to child well‐being in Southeast Asia is sketchy and preliminary. Using standardized Z‐scores, we computed the child well‐being index (CWI) to observe how well 11 Southeast Asian countries take care of children. The overall result shows most countries in this region have "less" to "moderate" performance in terms of CWI realization. An exception is given to Singapore, which has achieved a higher degree of CWI. Further analysis on "child well‐being regimes" suggests that examined countries have been combining productive and protective models with more emphasis on the former. The explanation for the low level of CWI and pervasive characteristic of productivism may rest on moral argumentation, in which child well‐being is constructed as an intimate and private area. Public provisions to regulate child well‐being, consequently, remain hidden behind the family unit as objects rather than subjects of social policy. Tied to low‐performance countries, we call for generous welfare programs to support low‐income families and intensified effort for the provision of quality education, healthcare, and basic facilities in order to enhance the well‐being of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade can drive biodiversity loss. Understanding which product attributes consumers consider when deciding between products of threatened species or alternatives, is key for conservation interventions. Labeled Discrete Choice Experiments (DCEs) are underutilized in wildlife trade literature but can aid this understanding. In labeled DCEs, the alternatives presented to respondents have specific names (e.g., paracetamol) as opposed to being generic bundles (e.g., option A). We used a labeled DCE to assess young adult preferences toward "cooling water" used to treat fever and heatiness (a traditional Chinese medicine state of illness) in Singapore. One popular cooling water contains saiga horn, made from Critically Endangered Saiga tatarica antelope. Data from 639 university‐enrolled respondents were analyzed using latent class models. Middle‐ to high‐income Chinese Singaporeans were the respondents most likely to choose saiga horn. Overall, however, respondents significantly preferred lower price products sold in nearby outlets—suggesting that for young adults in Singapore, saiga horn cooling water may be substitutable if its physical and financial availability is reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite their recognized importance in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, marine fungi, especially those associated with host organisms, remain poorly studied. Corals contain diverse communities of microbes that play important roles in adapting to disturbance and promoting host health, but studies on coral-associated fungal communities are conspicuous by their absence. Here, we comprehensively characterized the fungal communities and diversity associated with 97 unrelated coral colonies of Pocillopora acuta from nine islands in Singapore. We depleted coral DNA prior to PCR amplification of the fungal barcoding region (ITS1) to minimize issues of preferential host DNA amplification. This approach produced over a hundred times greater proportion of reads that were of fungal origin (75%) than previous studies, allowing us to more precisely characterize the associated fungal communities. We found no spatial structuring of fungal communities based upon sampling location, and provide evidence that suggests coral-associated fungi are more than just pathogens within their hosts. Many have been putatively identified as saprotrophs that are likely involved in making nutrients available for their host, and others may be possible symbiotrophs. Characterization of host-associated fungal communities provides valuable understanding—including information on the coral holobiont and how it functions—on a frequently overlooked, yet important microbial group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesizes an inverted U-shaped relationship between indicators of environmental quality and economic growth. The possible existence of an EKC has in the past been tested using relatively short time series of data and presumed indicators of environmental quality that can be considered sub-optimal. This paper addresses these shortcomings in investigating the extent to which economic growth and environmental quality in Singapore, the most economically developed country in Southeast Asia (SEA), accord with an EKC. A heavy metal (chromium, Cr) is here used as an indicator of environmental quality. This is because levels of a heavy metal with well-known risks to health are likely to have a much stronger relationship with perceptions of local environmental quality than, for example, CO 2 emissions, and therefore likely to elicit a more rapid response from legislators. A national emission inventory (NEI) analysis quantified atmospheric Cr emissions from 1900 to 2017. Levels of Cr emissions increased rapidly during the 1960s–1980s, a period characterized by industrialization in Singapore that commenced around the time of its independence, returning to negligible levels by the 1990s as the country entered the current period of de-industrialization and economic modernization. Results of the NEI for the period post-1950, when an unbroken time series of reliable and annually comparable economic data first become available, were further subjected to econometric analysis, which confirmed the EKC hypothesis with regard to Cr emissions in Singapore. Results also suggest that the post-industrial development of Singapore may have contributed to creating pollution havens in the region. Together the findings have important implications for regional sustainable development and the governance of pollution emissions, including those that potentially have transboundary effects, more generally. Image 1 • Quantification of ca. 120 years of chromium emissions to atmosphere in Singapore. • Inverted U-shaped Environmental Kuznets Curve is confirmed with a heavy metal proxy. • Singapore may have contributed to – and been affected by – pollution havens. • Effective regional cooperation is needed for regional sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although migrant women from neighboring Southeast Asian countries fill crucial care gaps in Singapore households as live-in domestic workers, their social protection remains uneven, uncertain, and indeterminate. Framed as unskilled work shunned by citizens and characterized by isolation in the privatized sphere of the home, domestic work has invariably become low-status, low-visibility, and low-pay work performed by foreign women engaged on private contracts. The access of migrant domestic workers in Singapore to social protection has thus triggered concern among international organizations, governments, and civil society. Using data derived from a survey of Indonesian domestic workers, interviews with key stakeholders, and archival research, this article adopts a transnational social protection research agenda by mapping how institutionalized practices that aim to reduce the vulnerabilities of migrant domestic workers in Singapore have shifted in the past decade. We begin by addressing the circumscribed impact of international conventions and origin government policies. Following our premise that the social support and protection of migrant domestic workers still depend largely on the host society, we focus on two interrelated developments in Singapore. First, we examine the reach of immigration, labor, and criminal law in recent "maid abuse" cases to reveal how criminal law in particular has broadened to account for the specific vulnerability of domestic workers and, relatedly, the culpability of errant employers. Second, we consider how civil society's campaign for a "mandatory" rest day offers insight into both the success and limitations of developing transnational advocacy for domestic workers in Singapore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 123 species of non-native freshwater fish, including seven possible hybrids, are recorded from the inland waters in Singapore. The majority (84 species, 68.3%) are from four families: Cyprinidae (37 species, 30.1%), Cichlidae (30 species, 24.4%), Osphronemidae (9 species, 7.3%), and Poeciliidae (8 species, 6.5%). Of these, 42 species--mainly cichlids (12 species)--are established in Singapore. The likely pathways of introduction and pertinent conservation issues are briefly discussed. Notes on local distribution, species used for biological control, dubious records, early records of native fish species, ornamental fish trade and aquacultural species are also provided. An addendum is included for four more species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We aimed to report the ten-year incidence and trend of sharps injuries and splash exposures (SISE), and analyse the causative instruments and risk factors leading to these injuries to identify potential areas of improvement.Methods: A retrospective review of self-reported SISE incidents from 2005 to 2014 was conducted in Singapore General Hospital. Data was extracted from the electronic database of the Department of Infection Prevention and Control. Incidence of SISE was calculated per 1,000 healthcare workers (HCWs) per year.Results: Over the ten-year period, a total of 1,901 SISE were reported. The average SISE incidence per year was 110.5 per 1,000 doctors and 22.8 per 1,000 nursing staff, with an overall incidence of 28.9 per 1,000 HCWs. The incidence of SISE decreased from 30.3 to 22.0 per 1,000 HCWs per year from 2005 to 2014, while that for splash exposures increased from 1.9 to 3.7 per 1,000 HCWs per year. Doctors reported the highest number of SISE (43.7%), followed by nurses (37.7%). Top mechanisms of injury were intraoperative procedures (22.8%), drawing blood (14.4%) and splash exposures (13.7%).Conclusion: Overall incidence of SISE decreased over the decade. Improved training and increasing use of safety devices, education and awareness could have contributed to the fall in incidence of sharps injuries; these measures should be reinforced and continued. However, the incidence of splash exposures increased over the same period. Preventive measures such as the use of protective goggles and face shields, together with personal protective equipment, should be emphasised and encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article demonstrates how South–South Cooperation (SSC), as it is now constituted in Southeast Asia, is little more than a liberal norm retaining only echoes of its origins in the 1955 Bandung Conference that first created SSC based on solidarity, common interests, and sovereignty. Southeast Asia is a useful case study of SSC's evolution, as its states have been major players over the decades – with Indonesia proposing the Bandung Conference, Malaysia playing a key role in the 1980s, and Indonesia again at the forefront of the region from the first years of the new century onwards. Thailand and Singapore also have notable SSC programmes. However, the practices of SSC in the region show that it has become a liberal norm based on one key instrument – technical cooperation programmes. The process of SSC norm internalisation has occurred through a complex webbing of the interests and ideas of Southeast Asia's states, regional dynamics, and Northern donor interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While geographers' work in Southeast Asia has yet to engage substantively with theoretical developments in gender/feminist studies generated by Anglo-American academic centers, we argue that Singapore has proven to be somewhat of an exception. Focusing on the National University of Singapore, this article discusses how the development of gender and feminist geography in Singapore has benefitted from being able to engage with international debates in feminism through the country's and NUS' internationalization efforts, and working in the English language. Using the notion of generative spaces, we highlight first, the importance of using our teaching to engage in feminist activism to encourage feminist change in the classroom, as well as within our immediate communities and further afield; and second, the nascent yet significant contributions of feminist geographers based in Singapore to feminist theorization from and about the Global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight species of armored spiders belonging to two families, Pacullidae Simon, 1894 and Tetrablemmidae O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1873, are reported from Singapore. Five species are documented as new to science: Paculla bukittimahensis Lin & Li, sp. n. (male and female), P. globosa Lin & Li, sp. n. (male and female), Ablemma malacca Lin & Li, sp. n. (male and female), Singaporemma lenachanae Lin & Li, sp. n. (male and female), and Sulaimania brevis Lin & Li, sp. n. (male). The three known species are Brignoliella besutensis Lin, Li & Jäger, 2012, B. michaeli Lehtinen, 1981, and Singaporemma singulare Shear, 1978, of which the female of B. besutensis is described for the first time. For comparison, types of Singaporemma adjacens Lehtinen, 1981 from Vietnam, Singaporemma halongense Lehtinen, 1981 from Vietnam, Singaporemma singulare from Singapore and Sulaimania vigelandi Lehtinen, 1981 from Malaysia are studied and photographed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to generate new thinking through application of the concept of trans-border governance to Southeast-Asia within the framework of new regionalism theory in order to fill some gaps in trans-border governance theory. In doing so, it will first elucidate in more detail what actors are involved in trans-border cooperation activities, how their responsibilities, jurisdictions and relative powers can be or have been altered by the interaction and whether trans-border cooperation can be used as a tool for further ‘integration’ or conversely whether it can enhance, as a counter effect, ‘disintegration’. In examining the (economic and political) power relations developed within and between different levels of governments and relevant economic and political stakeholders in ‘growth triangles’, the author aims to clarify the impact of these elements on trans-border governance. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In the face of a rising China, some scholars have argued that ASEAN countries will choose to either bandwagon with or balance against China, while others believe they will respond with a more moderate policy known as ‘hedging’. In considering these options, ASEAN countries must take into account their individual interests within the economic and security structure of this region. In this research, we argue that each ASEAN country confronts divergent sets of security and economic relations with China, which play a major role in shaping their policy responses. We can characterize their responses into four quadrants. Each cell can be categorized in terms of a high or low degree of threat perception (HT or LT) from China, as well as a positive or negative economic expectation (PE or NE) with China. We thus hypothesize that ASEAN countries in the HT–NE situation will balance against China; those in the LT–PE situation will bandwagon with China; those in the HT–PE or LT–NE situations will hedge against China. Hypotheses are supported by three case studies, Vietnam–China (HT–NE), Cambodia–China (LT–PE) and Singapore–China (HT–PE) relations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A new species of water scorpion, Ranatra raffl esi, is described from Singapore and neighbouring Indonesian islands (Bintan and Batam). This new species is similar morphologically to R. malayana from Sulawesi and R. natunaensis from Natuna Island, its closest putative relatives. In addition, based on an analysis of male paramere character states, we elevate Ranatra longipes thai Lansbury to full species status as R. thai Lansbury, new status. Illustrations are provided for key characters separating R. raffl esi from other similar species occuring in Southeast Asia, including the structures of the male forelegs, parameres, and phallotheca, as well as the fi ne details of male paramere structure for R. longipes longipes and R. thai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mud crab (Scylla serrata) is an economically important species found in the mangroves and estuaries of tropical countries and is a popular seafood product in the coastal areas of Southeast Asian markets. The aim of this study is to identify factors affecting consumer preference of mud crabs, and to understand consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for these factors in a Singapore market where imported mud crabs from other Asian countries are sold. The results showed that the country of origin matters to participants, affecting purchasing decisions, and consumers were willing to pay approximately 16.48 SGD (11.49 USD, the average price of four shops: 35.55 USD/kg for one mud crab) more if the mud crabs were from Sri Lanka if compared with Indonesian or Cambodian mud crabs. Moreover, consumers were willing to pay 25.08 SGD (17.48 USD) more if the mud crabs were alive and 13.40 SGD (9.34 USD) less if the mud crabs were frozen compared with fresh, but not alive, mud crabs. Furthermore, consumers' preference in mud crab was associated with the consumers' religion. Some groups of consumers preferred female mud crabs with eggs over male mud crabs, while other groups preferred male crabs. The results identified diverse consumer preference of mud crabs and, therefore, could provide new insights that are useful for sustainable consumption of mud crabs in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New political spaces, I suggest, are generated by varied strategies that govern populations in and through multiple scales of exception. I identify biopolitical assemblages as a space of inquiry into the situated play of exceptions that territorializes different kinds of value. Scales of exception are produced when a neoliberal logic of economic growth articulates biopolitical problems of population security. Neoliberal and biopolitical decisions not only focus on accumulating values in space, but also anticipate the value of currently devalued spaces. By invoking exceptions, states alternately favour neoliberal or biopolitical values, thus investing spaces with different kinds of value. The interplay of biopolitical and neoliberal logics and the resulting configuration of scales of exception are well illustrated in Southeast Asia in an age of pandemics. In Singapore, a technomedical hub assembles networks for capturing knowledge capital and property rights, configuring an ecology of expertise. This is a site of scientific prowess in a region increasingly viewed as a space of ‘third world’ exception to global health norms. In Indonesia, health crises have prompted a logic of ethical sensibility to basic human survival whereby political leaders invoke bio-sovereignty, configuring a national scale of ethical exception that challenges the global power of biocapital and the World Health Organization over the supply of vaccines. In contrast to approaches that foreground spaces of capital accumulation, I attend to diverse logics that differently valorize scales of exception, thus giving visibility to situated mechanisms that animate and mutate political cartography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The short film form in Southeast Asia is a potent form of cultural production and one that contributes compellingly to the development and continued growth of the region's moving image culture. This essay provides a preliminary theoretical framework within which to map the intricacies of the short film within Southeast Asia and offers a case study of short film production in Singapore. The essay grapples with the polymorphous and itinerant qualities of the production, distribution, and/or exhibition of short films through the concepts of modes of production, object, text, and/or trace. It identifies and examines two key traces in contemporary Singapore film production: merantau and motley urbanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at high risk of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE), which predicts ESKD risk among patients with CKD, has not been validated in primary care clinics in Southeast Asia (SEA). Therefore, we aimed to (1) evaluate the performance of existing KFRE equations, (2) recalibrate KFRE for better predictive precision, and (3) identify optimally feasible KFRE thresholds for nephrologist referral and dialysis planning in SEA.Methods: All patients with CKD visiting nine primary care clinics from 2010 to 2013 in Singapore were included and applied 4-variable KFRE equations incorporating age, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR). ESKD onset within two and five years were acquired via linkage to the Singapore Renal Registry. A weighted Brier score (the squared difference between observed vs predicted ESKD risks), bias (the median difference between observed vs predicted ESKD risks) and precision (the interquartile range of the bias) were used to select the best-calibrated KFRE equation.Results: The recalibrated KFRE (named Recalibrated Pooled KFRE SEA) performed better than existing and other recalibrated KFRE equations in terms of having a smaller Brier score (square root: 2.8% vs. 4.0-9.3% at 5 years; 2.0% vs. 6.1-9.1% at 2 years), less bias (2.5% vs. 3.3-5.2% at 5 years; 1.8% vs. 3.2-3.6% at 2 years), and improved precision (0.5% vs. 1.7-5.2% at 5 years; 0.5% vs. 3.8-4.2% at 2 years). Area under ROC curve for the Recalibrated Pooled KFRE SEA equations were 0.94 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.93 to 0.95) at 5 years and 0.96 (95% CI: 0.95 to 0.97) at 2 years. The optimally feasible KFRE thresholds were > 10-16% for 5-year nephrologist referral and > 45% for 2-year dialysis planning. Using the Recalibrated Pooled KFRE SEA, an estimated 82 and 89% ESKD events were included among 10% of subjects at highest estimated risk of ESKD at 5-year and 2-year, respectively.Conclusions: The Recalibrated Pooled KFRE SEA performs better than existing KFREs and warrants implementation in primary care settings in SEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]